Fountain pen



M. s. BAKE 2,905,148

FOUNTAIN PEN 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 22, 1959 Filed Jan. 17, 1952 M. S.BAKER FOUNTAIN PEN sept. 22, 1959 Filed Jan. 17 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. jzrlc'n Q/Cev:

United States Patent FOUNTAIN PEN Marlin S. Baker, Janesville, Wis.,assignor to The Parker Pen .Company, Janesville, Wis., a corporation ofWiscousin Application January `17, 1952, Serial No. 266,960

:3 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0- 51) The present invention relates to fountain pens,and particularly to a fountain pen having a novel construction of barreland writing nib.

An object of the invention is to provide a fountain pen having a novelwriting nib of such construction as to enable the employment of meansfor feeding ink to the nib in an unusually effective manner.

Another object is the provision of a fountain pen having a barrelportion and a hollow conical nib forming a continuation of the barrelportion, whereby the pen is capable of containing ink reservoir and feedmeans with a portion kof such means extending into the nib in full andintimate contact engagement therewith for establishing a highlyeffective ink feeding relation between the ink reservoir and feed meansand the writing point of the nib.

A further object is to provide a fountain pen including a barrel portionand a conical nib having nib sections forming a writing point, in whichthe nib has a circumferentially continuous tubular portion forming anextension of the barrel portion.

Another object is the provision of a fountain pen having a barrelportion and a writing nib in which the nib has a circumferentiallycontinuous portion integral therewith forming a continuation of thebarrel portion, whereby the construction eliminates the necessity for aspecial operation for aligning the nib with respect to the other partsof the pen, in the assembly of the pen, as was necessary in the case ofcertain pens heretofore known.

Another object is the provision of a fountain pen having a writing nib,in the construction of which it is not necessary to observe criticaldimensions as between the nib and other parts of the pen.

A still further object is the provision of a fountain pen of exceedinglysimple construction in which accidental disarrangement of the parts, innormal use of the pen, is rendered virtually impossible.

Another object is the provision of a fountain pen including a barrelportion and a slitted writing nib having a portion integral therewithforming a continuation of the barrel portion, in which novel means isprovided for covering a portion of the outer surface of the nib and aportion of the nib slit for maintaining the nib slit in wetted conditionso that the pen is immediately effective for writing-at all times solong as any ink remains in the pen.

Still another object is the provision of a fountain pen of the characterjust referred to, in which there is no positive limit to flexing of thenib.

Another object is the provision of a fountain pen having a constructionof such character as to present a novel streamline appearance.

A further object is to provide a fountain pen having a barrel portionand a hollow conical writing nib forming a continuation of the barrelportion, of novel character enabling construction of the pen so that thewriting point of the nib is positioned, as desired, either substantiallyon the axis of the pen, or displaced from the axis ice in a positionsimilar to that in most fountain pens heretofore known.

A further object is the provision of a writing instrument having a novelpocket clip arrangement and novel means for attaching the clip to theinstrument.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent upon reference to thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side view of a pen embodying one form of the presentinvention, showing a portion of the pointenclosing cap broken away, andshowing in broken lines the cap applied to the rear end of the penbarrel;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the pen of Fig. 1 with a portion of the capbroken away;

Figs. 3 and 3a together constitute an enlarged scale longitudinalsectional view of the pen and cap of Fig. 1, taken respectively on lines3-3 and 3a-3a of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the tip or nib portion of the pen of Fig. lprior to attachment of the slit cover;

Fig. 5 is an interior view from the rear of the tip or nib portion ofthe pen of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the rear portion of the pen showing theunderside of the rear end portion of the pen barrel and a portion of theclip;

Figs. 7 and 7a together constitute a large scale longitudinal sectionalview of the pen embodying a second form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary large scale longitudinal sectional view of thefront portion of a third form of pen embodying the present invention;and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary large scale side elevational view of a portionof a pen similar to that shown in Fig. 8 with a slit cover applied tothe nib.

Each of the forms of pen illustrated in the drawings includes a hollowconical tip or nib portion, including a writing nib, forming anextension of the barrel portion of the pen. An ink reservoir element iscontained within the barrel and in each case the reservoir element or anextension thereof projects into the hollow tip or nib portion in contactengagement with at least a substantial portion of the inner surface ofthe nib portion to the end that maximum ink feeding relation beestablished between the reservoir element and the nib and particularlythe slit of the nib. The barrel portion and nib portion in each casetogether constitute an effectively integral shelllike barrel andalthough the nib portion in one instance is separate from the barrelportion, nevertheless the eifect of a unitary barrel is achieved. Notonly is there eifective ink feeding relation established between thereservoir element and the nib, but the nib is automatically properlyaligned with the remaining elements of the pen in the assembly of thebarrel portion and nib portion, so that there is no necessity for aspecial operation for properly aligning the nib, or writing element, assuch with the other parts of the pen in the assembly of the pen.

In the pen illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 3a the nib is provided by atip that is separate from the barrel proper but, as will be brought outmore fully in the description to follow, the tip forms 'a continuationof the barrel proper and when it is fitted to the barrel the tip andbarrel form an effectively unitary article, the tip being fitted to thebarrel proper in a simple manipulation that renders virtuallynonexistent the possibility of misaligning the nib with the remainder ofthe pen.

Referring in detail to Figs. l, 2, 3 and 3a, the pen 12 includes abarrel or body 14 and a cap 16 adapted to be fitted over either end ofthe pen and retained thereon by means of a friction lit between the capand barrel. The barrel 14 is made up of a front section 18 and a rearsection 20 detachably secured together by means of a threaded connectingmeans in the form of a tubular connecting member 22. At the forward endof the front section 18 is the tip of nib portion 24 detachably mountedin the forward end of the barrel proper.

The ink reservoir element 26 which in the present instanoeis. ofcapillary nature, as` will be. described in def tail later, is fitted inthe front section 18 ofthe barrel and is provided with. an extensionprojecting into the interior of the tip 24.

The barrel14, made of suitable material such as plastic or metal,is ofelongated formation tapered at both ends While the central portionthereof has a shape approaching thecylindrical. The taper of the barrelat both ends is long.A and gradual, presenting a pleasing appearance,the ,sliapev also effectively retaining the cap 16 thereon by frictionwhen the-cap is so tted as shown in Figs. l and 2. Itvwill be noted thatthe taper of the conical tip 24 conforms with the overall tapered shapeof the p en, terminating in a writing point. The rear end of the penalso, is of overall tapered shape but with suitable conformations, foraccommodating the pocket clip 30 as hereinafter described more indetail.

The front section 18 of the barrel is provided with a bore 32 openingthrough both ends of the section, itsrear end portion being threaded at34 for receiving one end of the connecting means 22 forA detachablysecuring the two barrel Sections together. The bore 32 includes a rearportion 36, substantially cylindrical, extending from the rear end ofthe front section forwardly throughout a substantial portion of thelength of the section and merges at its forward .end into a slightlytapered or conical portion 38. The latter bore portion communicates witha third bore portion 40 of reduced diameter and of substantiallycylindrical shape whereby a rearwardly facing shoulder 42 is formedbetween the bore portions 38 and 40. The forward end of the frontsection 18 is inclined at 44 for cooperation with a similarly inclinedrear surface on the tip 24, as will be referred to later. On the upperside ofthe barrel section 18, with respect to the writing position ofthe pen, is a projection or relief conformation 46 having aconvex orgenerally pointed forward end 48 terminating closely adjacentthe forwardend of the barrel section for cooperation with a slit cover 192 on thenib portion of the pen, as will be described later. The projection orrelief 46 is of a. height or` thickness at its forward end similar tothat of the slit cover and is provided with a smooth outer or uppersurface merging rearwardly smoothly and continuously into the outersurface of the main portion of the barrel section 18.

The rear barrel section 20 has in its forward end a bore t) interio-rlythreaded at 52 for receiving one end of the connecting member 22. Thebore 5d preferably is of relatively short axial dimension, being of alength not substantially greater than that sufllcient to accommodate theconnecting Imember 22. The connecting member 22 is generally cylindricalin shape, having exterior threads 54 andy SS-for screw-threadedconnection respectively with the threadsY 34 and 52, and preferably hasits rear end open and is provided at its forward end with a plate-likeelement SG-forming an abutment means for engaging the rear end of thereservoir element 26. The connecting member 22 is provided with atransverse notch or groove 58-cut through the end element 56 forestablishing a vent passage to the reservoir element 26, the rear end ofwhich is' open. The barrel sections 1S and 20 are adaptedto bethreadedonto the connecting member 22 and brought into mutual engagementfor detachably securing the barrel sections together. The relationbetween the threads 54, 34 and 55, 52 is such as. to facilitatealignment of the barrel sections in threading them onto the connectingmember and connecting them together. Tovthis end the threads 54, 34consist of a single thread and thethreads 55, 52 consist of triplethreads with greater effective pitch, producing different relative screwfeeding movements between. the barrel sections and connecting member,enabling.y easier and' more precise alignmentA between the 4, barrelsections to a position in which the clip 30 is aligned with the nib. I

Leading rearwardly from the bore 50 is a reduced diameter bore 60 offsetwith respect to the bore 50 and substantially in line with the mainportion of the rear end of the barrel section 20, and leading rearwardlyfrom the bore 60 is a small bore-62 communicating with a vent opening64. A venty or-breather'; tube 66 is frictionally fitted in the bore 62and extends forwardly a substantial extent, preferablytoa=position1adjacent thefo'rwardpmV tion oftlieconnecting member' 221Thetitly between the tube 66 and' bore 62 is such as to prevent leakageVof? ink therethrough Yso 'than inV the eventV any. ink from` thereservoir element 26 should be shaken or jarred into the bores 50 and60, the inkl wouldbev prevented from flowing out the vent opening 64 andsoiling the exterior of the pen. As will be evident from the laterdescription of the reservoir element 26.anyV suchink` would be in minorquantities because ofthe capillary nature ofthe element.

The ink reservoir element 26V as indicated above is pref-v erably ofcapillary nature for lling the pen by capillary action, storing inkthereinby capillary action and'feeding ink by capillary action to thewriting nib. Any one 0f`a number of suitable formsv ofcapillary inkreservoir may be employed for the purpose, but I have found thatexcellentresults have been obtained bythe use of a reservoir element ofthe, kind disclosed and claimed in Brtell Patent No. 2,522,555V issuedSeptember 19, 1950. The reservoir element thereindisclosed may bereferredto as a spiral wrap` element and reference may be had to thatpatent for. a disclosure of the complete details thereof.' However, abrief description of the nature of the reservoir element will be givenhere.

TheV reservoir. element 26 is preferably made up of 'a sheet ofsuitablematerialV such as silver or plastic rolled into spiral.or.-convolute form, having capillary ink storage spaces between theconvolutions of the sheet. Preferably spacing means areV provided forspacingl the convolutions apart, which'may take the form of projectionson atleastcertainf, of the convolutions engaging other convolutions. Itis also desirable to provide apertures in the convolutions for providingpassages between adjacent radially spaced spaces. One convenient mannerof forming the projections and apertures is to provide the sheet with aplurality of apertures as for example by piercing or punching, in whichoperation irregular legs orloose endrportions ofthe material of thesheet formed by the punching or piercing operation extend substantiallyperpendicularly to the sheet. The sheet is then rolled and the irregularlegs or loose end portions form the projections referred to. Suchvapertures are shown in the reservoir element at 68 (Fig. 3) and theprojections are showndiagrammatically at 70 (Fig. 3a). The reservoirelement is illustrated partially in section in Fig. 3a to: showitsinterior construction, and in elevation inFig. 3 in order to simplifythe illustration. The ink storage spaces are actually one continuousspiral space havingthe effect of a plurality. of radially positionedspaces with the lapertures establishing communication between ad.-jacent spaces. Both endsof the reservoir element are of course openvandrventing of the rear end of the reservoir element is establishedthrough the notch or groove 58 and then through the tube 66, bore 62 andvent opening 64. In thelling andwriting out operation of thepenthe/interior pressure is balancedV with respect to the atf mosphericpressure by means of the venting provision. A centralA axial space 7,1may be provided, if desired. to facilitate rolling the sheet in theforming operation.

The greater portion of the reservoir element 26 is of suchdimension astosnugly t in the portion 36 of the bore 32 while a forwardportionextends into the slightly tapered-portion.- 38 of the bore. Thereservoir element may bezslightly compressed',.if desired, or otherwisesuite ablyl reduced` in dimension to snugly t the boreportion Thereservoir element 26 is provided with a forwardly extending feed portion72 which may be integral with the main part of the reservoir element. Areservoir element having such a feed portion is disclosed and claimed inthe copending application of Floyd E. Bartell, Serial No. 186,415, filedSeptember 23, 1950, now Patent No. 2,648,309, to which reference may behad for complete details thereof. Briefly the feed portion 72 whenintegral with the main part of the reservoir element constitutes anextension of the inner convolutions of the reservoir element. However,as explained in the Bartell application referred to, the feed portion 72may be an extension of a central spiral element separate from theremaining convolutions of the reservoir element. The reduced dimensionof the feed portion 72 forms a forwardly facing shoulder 74 on thereservoir element, the shoulder being engageable with the shoulder 42 ofthe pen barrel, while the feed portion extends through the bore portion40 and through a tubular nib mount 7 6 which will be described later.The extreme forward end portion of the feed portion 72 is tapered at i8so as to conform in a general way with the tapered shape of the tip 24.The portion 73 may be tapered for example by a cutting operation afterthe reservoir element is otherwise shaped. Also the portion 78 may beshredded longitudinally so as to permit it to be compressed to a slightextent when extended into the tips or nib portions of various sizes andshapes, it being understood that modifications of the tip or nib portionmay be resorted to within the scope of the invention and in all casesthe reservoir element will be brought into contact engagement with asubstantial portion of the inner surface of the tip or nib portion. Thereservoir element may be readily inserted in and removed from the frontbarrel section after separation of the barrel sections and removal ofthe connecting means 22 from the front barrel section.

The tip 24 as brought out above is of conical shape, being hollow andreceiving the forward end of the feed portion 72 of the reservoirelement. The tip includes a nib proper and a rearward circumferentiallycontinuous portion, both forming an extension of the pen barrel. The tipis preferably a deep drawn cone and may be of any suitable material,such for example as gold, or gold alloy and is provided with atransverse slit il@ extending from the extreme forward writing point endrearwardly, forming a lower part 82 and an upper part 84. The upper part84 is provided with an ink feed slit S6 extending from the writing pointend rearwardly terminating in a pierce 88, dividing the upper part intonib sections 89, the forward end of both of which forms a writing point90 extending forwardly beyond the lower part 82 of the nib. The lwritingpoint 90 may be provided with a hardened ywear-resistant material inaccordance with usual practice in forming pen nibs. The tip or nibportion in its final form is provided with the circumferentiallycontinuous tubular portion 92 rearwardly of the pierce 88, shaped tomerge into the barrel. Preferably, for convenience in manufacture, the:slit 86 is extended longitudinally through the tip, and thereafter theportion rearwardly of the pierce is welded, whereby the nib sections 89are brought to the proper position relative to each other for providingthe desired capillary dimension of the slit 86. It may be desired bycertain users to have the writing tip displaced from the axis of the penas a whole in a position somewhat adjacent the periphery of longitudinalprojection of the main portion of the pen. lFor producing that effect,the tip 24 is so constructed and positioned as to place the writingpoint El@ offset with respect to the axis of the pen as a whole. The tip24 is preferably symmetrical about an axis indicated by the line 94which, as will be noted, is disposed at an angle `with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the pen as a whole as indicated by the line 96. Thetransverse slit Si) is disposed preferably parallel with but offset fromthe axis 94 and the writing point 9i) is therefore disposedsubstantially on the axis of the nib, as represented by the line 94,While being disposed above the axis of the barrel sections relative tothe writing position of the pen. The rear end of the tip 24 is inclinedat 98 to conform to and engage the inclined surface 44 of the penbarrel, the relation being such that when the two surfaces mentioned areproperly abutted the tip 24 is bodily disposed at a slight angle withrespect to the axis of the barrel sections.

The means for mounting the tip 24, as mentioned above, includes thetubular nib mount 76 which may be of silver for example. The nib mountis provided at its forward end with a flange or enlargement ltltl havinga frusto-conical outer surface for conforming generally with the innersurface of the tip. The forward end of the nib mount is inserted intothe rear open end of the tip and secured thereto by appropriate meanssuch as by the use of silver solder. The nib mount is disposed at aslight angle with respect to the tip whereby when the nib mount isfitted in the bore portion il? and disposed coaxial therewith, the tipwill be disposed at the desired angle referred to above relative to theaxis of the barrel. The outer surface of the flange lill) engages theinner surface of the tubular portion 92 throughout a substantial part ofits area. Since the flange Miti and the tubular portion 92 are notconcentric, the contact between the two elements will not be existentthroughout the entire surface of the flange. At the lower part (Fig. 3)the contact will extend throughout the longitudinal dimension of theflange, while at the top there may be only point contact, forming anarea of contact similar to that represented at 101 (Fig. 3). There is ofcourse line contact between the elements throughout their entireperiphery. However in the use of silver solder, the solder materialflows into the space between the elements throughout the area of theflange and forms a secure bond. The nib mount therefore need not beconcentric with the tip in order to effect the desired connectionbetween the two elements, and accordingly a single kind of nib mount maybe used in connection with tips or nib portions of various shapes. Therear tubular portion of the nib Vmount is preferably such as to have asnug llt in the bore portion 40 so as to be normally retained therein byfriction and similarly the feed portion 72 has a snug lit with the nibmount, further aiding in frictionally retaining the nib mount and tip inthe desired mounted position.

The pen is provided with means for at least partially covering the nibslit and adjacent portions of the nib sections so as to retain the inkin the nib slit in liquid condition, enabling the pen to writeimmediately even after not having been used for writing for aconsiderable period of time, so long as any ink remains in the pen. Theslit cover 102. is preferably in the form of a tapered piece, arcuate incross section to conform to the outer surface of the conical tip 24. Theslit cover is preferably welded at one or more points 104 (Fig. 4)adjacent its rear end to the portion 92. and thereby rearwardly of thepierce 88 and nib slit S6. The forward portion is free but closelyadjacent the tip, extending forwardly over a portion of the nib sectionsand preferably in contact engagement therewith, and over the pierce anda portion of the nib slit, establishing between itself and the nibsections a capillary space enabling ink to enter thereinto. The ink insuch capillary space forms a film on the outer surface of the nib andmaintains the ink in the nib slit or at least a substantial portionthereof in liquid condition preventing the nib from drying out andenabling immediate flovv of ink in a writing operation.

The nib sections SS preferably have a limited degree of flexibility forvarying the thickness of the line in writing. Similarly the slit coverlll-2 is possessed of a limited degree of flexibility for flexing inresponse to flexing of the nib sections whereby the nib sections areWithout positive limit to flexing.

The slit cover 162 is also utilized in initially aligning the tip withrespect to the remainder of the pen and in fn'ormally retaining itinvaligned position; The slitk cover extends: rearwardly beyond the tip24 where it isl provided witha generally concave conformationA 106'which may. bein the form of a V-shape notch, engageable with the convexor pointed portion 48 on the relief element 46'. The complementaryinclined edgesof the convex .and concave conformations enable the nibportion to be readily properly positioned angularly in the operationofmounting the tip in the barrel section. In mounting theY tip. in thebarrel section, the two parts-are firstpositionedwith the slit cover andrelief element in generally alignedtposition and the tip is mounted inthe barrel by inserting the nib mount in the bore portion 40. Asvtheslit cover and-relief element approach each other, the inclinedsurfacesof the convex and concave conformations accurately align the tip andbarrel portion in such position that the inclined surfaces 44 and 98 arein full and complete abutment, which otherwise may not be the caseconsidering the fact that the nib mount is rotatable about an axisinclined to the axis of the tip. The convex and concave elements of therelief element 46 and slit cover 102 also normally retain the tipagainst rotation with respect to the barrel section in the normal. useof the pen. rIt willV be noted that the height or radial thickness ofthe relief element 46 is substantially the same as that of theslit;cover so that the outer surfaces of the two are flush and present aneat and finished appearance to the pen. The. slitcover serves as anindication of. the top side of the pen, to the convenience of the userin picking up the pen and immediately holding it in a writing position,and .accordingly the slit cover may also be referred toy as an index;

It is desirable of course that the conical tip 24 be substantiallyentirely lled with capillary ink feeding material so as to establishmaximum effective ink feed to the nib slit 86. For this purpose Ipreferably employ acapillary insert element 108 of suitable absorbentmaterialrhaving capillary properties Isuch as to be effective forfeeding ink to the nib slit 86. One such material isrubber sponge; othermaterials having similar capillary ink feed properties are alsoconsidered satisfactory. The insert 108 is inserted in the tip or nibportion and suitably compressed so as to be forced against the innersurface of the nib and be in position for feeding ink to the nib slit86. The reservoir element 26 is effective for retaining the insert 108in the desired position, the reservoir element being held against theinsert by. the connecter element 22 when the latter is threaded into therear end of the front barrel section. The shoulder 74 on the forward endof the reservoir element may engage the shoulder 42 to limit the forwardposition of the reservoir element and the feed portion 72 is of properlength that when the shoulders 74 and 42 are in abutting engagement theforward end of the feed portion 72 engages the insert 108 and retainsthe latter in the desired position for fully engaging'the entirecorresponding inner surface of the nib. It will be noted that theinterior space of the tip 24 terminatesV in a generally rounded surface110, and opens forwardly out to the exterior only through the slits 80and 86. It will be obvious that the extreme forward end surface of thefeed portion 72 engages the insert 108 throughout a sutlicient area toestablish the desired capillary feed yrel-ation therebetween.Furthermore, the peripheral surface of the end 78 of the feed portion 72engages the inner surface of the tip throughout a substantial areaestablishing a capillary space between itself and the tip throughoutthat area, aiding in capillary feed of ink'from the feed portion to theinsert and to the nib slit. The end portion 78 may be somewhatcompressed or deformed to engage the inner surface of the tip or nibportionthroughout the greater part of itsV area.

The conical and tapered shape of the tip- 24 and nib forming acontinuation of the tapered shape of the barrel,l as noted, creates aunique and pleasingstreamline effect. The nib has acircumferentialsurface broken only by the slits.

The pocket clip 30 asabove mentioned has a portion positionedin therecess or cutout area 28 of the barrel or pen body and inwardly of" thecircumferential projection of that portion of the pen, so as to enablethe cap 16 to be placed over the'pocket clip and entirely concealing thelatter. The cap when so iitted on the pen has friction engagement withthat portion of the barrel or body immediately forward of the recess, soas to be normally retained on the pen in a writing operation. The clipis` of U-shape having legs 112 and 11'4 interconnected by a portion 116.The legs of the clip are normally spring-biased toward each other sothat when the clip is fitted on the pen, the leg 112, which is disposedin the recess 28, forms a pocket engaging element. The rear end of thepen barrel or body is provided with a recess 118 on the side oppositethe cutout portion 28 merging into a groove 120 leading to the rear endof the pen and terminating in a groove portion 122 (Fig. 6) on the endsurface of the pen. The clip is fitted over the rear end portion of thepen, with the legs straddling the pen, to a position wherein theconnecting portion 116 enters the groove 122 and the leg 114 enters thegroove 120, while the leg 112 enters the recess or cutout portion 28. Onthe extended or free end of the leg 114 is a projection 124 which entersinto the recess 118. The projection or lug 124 in the recess 118, andthe leg 114 and connecting portion 116 being disposed in the respectivegrooves, retain the clip in position on the pen body or barrel againstdisplacement therefrom by ordinary forces encountered in using the pen.The projection 124 prevents the clip from being withdrawnvlongitudinally rearwardly from the pen while the projection and the leg114 and connecting portion 116y all cooperate with the associatedelements of the pen body in restraining the clip from displacementtransversely of the pen' body.

In the foregoing embodiment of the invention, the nib is formed by latip separable from the pen barrel. It is contemplated within the scopeof the present invention to form the barrel and nib as an integralarticle, that is to say, at least a portion of the barrel is integralwith the nib, the barrel being separable at another point in order toadmit of insertion of the reservoir element into the pen and removaltherefrom. Such a pen is shown in Figs. 7 and 7a where the pen barrel ismade upof a front section 126 and a rear section 128. The front section126 is preferably made of metal having a nib portion that is preferablyof gold or gold alloy, while therear barrel section 128 may be made asdesired, for example of metal or plastic. The two barrel sections aresecured together by means of a connecting member 130 having an exteriorsurface frictionally engaged by the inner surface of the rear endportion of the front barrel section 126 and having internal threadsengaging the forward exteriorly threaded and reduced end portion of therear barrel section 128, In the rear end ofthe lrear barrel section 128is a vent opening 132 in which is inserted a tube 134 in a manner andfor the purpose described in connection with the tube 66.

The pen of Figs. 7 and 7a has an overall tapered shape continuingforwardly into the nib portion or tip 136, which is of hollow conicalform similar to that described above and, as shown, is integral with thebarrel section 126. The tip 136 is provided with a transverse slit 138forming a lower part 140 and an upper part 142. The upper part isprovided with a nib slit 144 terminating in a pierce 150, forming a pairof nib sections 146, together forming a writing point 148 similar to thepoint referred to above and extending forwardly beyond the lower part140. The tip or nib portion 136 preferably is directed generally at anangle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main portion of thepen, and the transverseA slit 138 isA inclined slightly relative to thelongitudinal axis of the pen barrel and so positioned that the writingpoint 148 is displaced upwardly from the longitudinal axis vof the penas a whole, relative to the writing position of the pen.

The pen of the present modification includes a reservoir element 152which may be of the type disclosed in the Bartell patent mentionedabove. The reservoir element is preferably mounted in a portion of theconnecting member 130, the latter having a plurality of fingers 154preferably having a limited degree of flexibility, frictionally andreleasably engaging the rear end of the reservoir element. The reservoirelement may be easily removed by separating the barrel sections bypulling them apart and removing the reservoir element from the fingers154. A new or replacement reservoir element may be easily inserted in anobvious manner. Rearwardly of the reservoir element is a plug 156 whichmay be frictionally fitted in the connector element 130 and providedwith a central axial bore 158, the latter communicating withVtransversely extending grooves '160 communicating with the interior ofthe reservoir element. The bores 158 and 160 provide venting of thereservoir element through the tube 134 and opening 132. The plug 156 isengaged by the forward end of the rear barrel section 128 and in turnengages the rear end of the reservoir element 152 whereby the latter isretained forwardly in the desired position. The reser- 'voir elementclosely approaches the forward end of the nib portion, and preferablyextends well forward of the pierce 150 and underlies a substantialportion of the slit y144 for efficient capillary ink feeding relationwith the slit. The forward end of the reservoir element may be shreddedas indicated so as to enable it to be compressed to conform to thereduced dimension of the nib portion at that position. A great partofthe nib portion is lled by the reservoir element, establishing a largearea capillary space between the surfaces of the two elements andconsequent ecient ink feed from the reservoir element to the nib slit.

From the Iabove it will be seen that in the pen of Fig. 7, the nibportion forms a continuation of the barrel portion with the some effectas in the pen of the first embodiment. In the first case the nib portionis separate from the barrel portion, while in the second, the twocorresponding elements are integral. However, in both cases the effectis the same in that the hollow conical nib portion forms a continuationof the barrel portion, and a reservoir element is disposed in the barrelportion with an extension projecting into the nib portion in contactengagement with the inner surface of the latter and in ink feedingrelation with the nib pierce and slit.

Many users may desire a pen having a writing point substantially on theaxis of the pen as a whole, as it is disposed for example in mostball-point pens. The pen illustated in Fig. 8 includes a writing pointdisposed in a position as just referred to. The pen differs from the penof Fig. 7 in that the former is provided with a writing point which lieson the axis of the pen barrel. In all other respects, the two pens aresimilar. In the pen of Fig. 8 the forward barrel section 166 has a tipor nib portion 1168 that is substantially symmetrical about the axis ofthe barrel Section 166. The transverse slit 170 is substantially on theaxis whereby the writing point 172, or at least the lower surfacethereof, is substantially on the axis of the barrel section 166.

It is also contemplated that a slit cover be provided on a pen in whichthe nib is intergral with the pen barrel. The pen of Fig. 9 is similarto that of Fig. 8, with a slit cover added and a projection or reliefelement on the pen barrel having a surface ush with the outer surface ofthe slit cover. In the pen of Fig. 9 the forward barrel section 174 isprovided with a tip or nib portion 176 similar to the tip or nib portion168 of Fig. 8, having a transverse slit 178 and a nib slit 180terminating rearwardly in a pierce 182. The slit cover 184 may besimilar in all material respects to the slit cover 102 and is preferablywelded to the barrel section at one or more points 186 in a manner abovedescribed. The forward portion of the slit cover is detached from thepen and overlies the pierce 182 and a portion of the nib sections aswell as a portion of the nib slit for a purpose similar to thatdescribed in connection with the firstembodiment. In a similar manner,the barrel section 174 may be provided with a raised or relief portion188, formed in any suitable manner, having an upper surface flush withthe outer surface of the slit cover to provide a finished appearance tothe pen. The interengaging surfaces between the slit cover and reliefportion may be of any desired shape, for example of concave and convexshape respectively, similar to the shape of the corresponding elementsof Fig. 2, being so made that a single slit cover can be applied to anyof the different forms of pen, the particular shape having noutilitarian function when applied to the pen of Fig. 9 where the nib andbarrel are integral.

A slit cover such as just described in connection with the pen of Fig. 9may also be applied if desired to the pen of Fig. 7 having the off-axiswriting point.

In all of the embodiments illustrated, the writing nib is effectivelyunitary with the barrel or at least a portion of the barrel. In Fig. l,while the tip 24 is a separate element from the barrel proper, still thecircumferentially continuous portion 92 forms an extension of the barreland in so far as the integrity of the nib and barrel is concerned, theparting line between the tip and the barrel may be disposed rearwardlyat any desired point so that the nib is intergral with the barrel or atleast a portion thereof. In the latter three forms (Figs. 7, 8 and 9)the barrel in its forward portion is integral with the nib, while thebarrel is made of separable sections to enable the insertion of the inkreservoir element into the pen and removal therefrom.

The pen is such that no critical dimensions need be observed as betweenthe nib and other portions of the pen. The nib is formed as an integralpart of another portion of the pen, in one case as a portion of the tip24 and in all of the other cases as a portion of the barrel section. Inthe pen of the first embodiment it is practically impossible, in anormal writing operation, for the nib to become misaligned with respectto the remaining portions of the pen, and in the pens of the latterthree embodiments, such is impossible short of desrtuction of the pen.The ink reservoir element has such contact engagement with the nibportion as to establish effective capillary ink feeding relation withthe nib slit.

I claim:

1. A fountain pen comprising a barrel portion, a hollow conical nibportion slitted to form nib sections, a capillary ink reservoir elementin the pen having a portion extending into the nib portion in inkfeeding relation with the slit between the nib sections, and an arcuateslit cover on the nib portion secured thereto adjacent its rear end at aposition rearwardly of and adjacent the mib sections with its -forwardportion overlying a portion of the nib sections and the slittherebetween, said barrel portion having a projection in engagement withthe rear end of the slit cover with a surface flush with the outersurface of the slit cover .and extending rearwardly and merging into andforming a continuous smooth surface with the surface of the barrel.

2. A fountain pen comprising a barrel having a forwardly opening bore, ahollow conical nib portion slitted from its forward end to form nibsections disposed upwardly relative to a writing position, the nibportion having a circumferentially continuous portion rearwardly of thenib sections, a tubular nib mount having a frustoconical surface at itsforward end engaging and secured to the inner surface of saidcircumferentially continuous portion, said nib mount being removably andfrictionally tted in said bore, said barrel and nib portion havinginterengaging end surfaces lying in a plane inclined at an iacute angleto the longitudinal axis of` the pen, a slit cover secured adjacent its.rearendy to the nib portion rearwardly of and adjacent thenib; sectionsAwith its forward portion overlying a portion of the nib sections and theslit therebetween, `said barrel having a projection engageable with saidslit cover, said slit cover and projection having a flush` outer,-surface extending rearwardly .and merging into andforming a continuoussmooth surface with the surface of the barrel, and the projection andslit cover having. intcrengaging convexand -concave conformationsoperative for restraining rotation of the nib portion relative to thebarrel, and a capillary ink reservoir element in the pen having aportion extending into the nib portion in ink feedingrelation with thenib sections.

3. A fountain pen comprising a barrel having separable front and rearsections, the front section having a longitudinal bore therethrough witha relatively large portion opening through the rear end and a reducedportion opening through the forward end, a hollow conical nib portionhaving a transverse slit extending rearward- 1y from its forward endparallel with itsy longitudinal axis to form upper and lowerpartsrelative to a writing position of the pen, the upper part beingslittedv to form nib sections projecting forwardly beyond the lower partand together `forming a tapered writing point, the interior space of thenib portion opening forwardly only through the slits, the nib portionhaving a circumferentially continuous portion rearwardly ofthe slits,attubular nib mount having its forward end secured to the inner surfaceof said circumferentially continuous,V portion in longitudinallyinclined relation thereto, said nib mount being removably andfrictionally fitted in said reduced bore portion in coaxial relationtherewith whereby the nib portion is inclined longitudinally relative tothe Ibarrel and said writing point is displaced upwardly from the axisof the barrel relative to the barrel axis, said barrel and nib portionhaving inclined interengaging surfaces, a slit cover secured adjacentits rear end to the 1-2 nib; portion rearwardly ofI andr adjacent the:nib,` sections with its forward portion overlyinga: portion of thel nibsections and the slit therebetween in capillary relation therewith, thebarrel having a projectionengageable with the rear end of the slitcover, the projection and slit cover having interengaging convex andconcave conformations effective for restraining rotation of the nibportion relative to the barrel, a capillary ink reservoir element insaid barrel, and capillary ink feed means leading from the reservoirelement substantially filling the space in the nib portion in capillaryink feeding relation with the inner surface thereof.

References Citedin the iile ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 116,242Wagner June 20, 1871 423,684 Heath Mar. 18, 1890 427,959 Bernhard May13, 1890 535,588 vHorton Mar, 12, 1895 684,685' Gerst Oct. 15, 1901709,307 VDickie' Sept. 16, 1902 1,336,119 Andersen Apr. 6, 19201,470,405 Uhl Oct. 9, 1923 11,718,709 Savio June 25, 1929 2,303,373Martin Dec. 1, 1942 2,431,015 Andrews et al Nov. 18, 1947 2,432,0-12Hanle Dec. 2, 1947 2,462,929 Zodtner Mar. 1, 1949 2,513,3801 TownsendJuly 4, 1950 2,516,629 Hine July 25, 1950 2,595,974 Norlin May 6, 19522,648,309- Bartell Aug. 11, 1953 2,666,416 Rickmeyer Ian. 19, 19542,684,052 Rickmeyer July 20, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,880 Great Britainof 1888 324,435 France Dec. 11, 1902

